Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-15
AN old MANS STORY.
Written for the Tribune By 7. Il. TINS.

lie WASH ! SuCn a very u Olu man alter
all, though almost universally he was call
ed Old Man Love.
He looked to be 70, but was only a little
over 80. His hair and beard were a griz-
zled gray. His forehead high, not bald.
His nose prominent and red. His eyes
small, but with a merry twinkle in them
that indicated a humorous soul. His
shoulders were stopped, though strong
looking. His figure short and stout,
though by no means dumpy. In fact he
was one of those big little men,
The smoke from his meerschaum curl
ed upward lazily as he sat upon the piazza
of the A. House in s.. Like
most of the rest of us he was clad in sum
1ner habiliments, mosts noticeable among
which were a broad brimmed straw hat
and linen buster.
1t was one of those delicious summer
nights which are the JOY and boast Of Cal
%lfornians, and one which everyone about
the 4 House seemed to be enjoying
in a very quiet sort of a way, superinduc-
ed doubtless, by the seductive balminess of
the atmosphere.
Racey, the young blooded horse-breeder,
and Stocky. the broker, sat down, one on
each side of the old man, and upon com
menting on the beauty of the evening
were answered by him in a musing sort Of
way as follows:
''Yes,-a beautiful night" He paused
looked up at the moon, let his gaze wan
der among the stars, then turning his own
bright little orbs upon each of them in
turn, added almost i%naudibly:
"Just such a Night as this
The young men almost in the same
breath, said:
You could tell Us a story no doubt, Mr..
Love"
Boys" and he laid hand on the knee
of each, you'll both maybe see just such
another night yet, but | hope it wont cause
any regretful memories"
He looked with enquiring eyes at each
of them and then with a look all around
al alle ItSL Vi us, went OH.
at was years ago, Overt in Calaverous, on
the Mokelulnne, when most Of us had the
gold fever, pretty bad, when the river bars
from Martins Bar down to Lancha Plana
were thick with men. 1t was a busy time
then, everybody was in earnest. Disputes
were settled by Col. Colt. We had no
time for elections and politics didn't count.
Our judges and court officers, counsel for
defense and prosecution were chosen, ex-
tempore, and served pro TEN. Our camp
had just held court upon this plan, and to
the satisfaction of the jury it was proven
that Bill Buffers had robbed Yankey Jen-
kins' sluice-boxes and had stolen forty
ounces of dust out of Joe Warfields cabin.
Buffers had never been a favorite, and
when sober enough, had paid more atten-
ton to gambling than to bis mule team.
He protested his innocence to the last, but
the jury had said hang and a pine tree
bore fruit.
"a few of us protested against such
summary punishment, and argued that as
all the missing durt had been recovered,
such extreme measures were too hard. 1t
was of no use. The jury had said hang
and that was final. Buffers had some lit
tie property, and 'seein' as Loves got SIGH
a tender heart, | propose he's made adj
ministrator Of tn p%lunder,' said AL. Mason
So I was empowered to handle Buffers
chattels. I wont attempt to deny that in
the good old days, it had more than once
happened that when a man forfeited his
too, and for for his garments
they cast lots. | had noticed before on
such occasions, there were some not at all
adverse to dead mems Shoes in fact were
ever on the alert for such opportunities.
One Of these, he's a money lender now,
approached me with:
when are you going to sell Buffers
stuff?
sI'm not going to sell Buffers stuff I'M
til everybody is satisfied he has no heirs to
claim it was my answer.
He didn't like my reply nor the tone Of
it, but the court approved of my decision.
Buffers six-mule team found a driver will
ling to sign an agreement and work it on
shares.
Among his few effects no clue waa
found as to where his States address was
To the post office came no letters for VIM.
Buffers, bat still l kept watch and guard
over the property and its earnings and the
hnuc di,hboa mn kTyhn. Tr,arAnn3 II